Apparatus for cleaning containers

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a rotation-symmetrical container with a mouth comprises: positioning means (15,16,17,18,19,21) for placing and holding a container in a raised inclined position such that the mouth is situated on the underside; first drive means (23,24,25,26) for rotating the container round its centre line; and scraping means (29,20) for placing into the container and drivable in the direction of the centre line thereof by means of second drive means (32,33,34,35); such that during the action of the first and the second drive means the inner surface of the container is scraped clean.

Description: The invention relates to a apparatus for emptying a rotation-symmetrical container with a mouth, comprising container positioning means for placing and holding a container in a raised position with an inclination angle such that the mouth is situated on the underside; container rotating means and aligning means; extensible removal tool means. An apparatus of this type is disclosed in e.g. US-A-2 911 662 and NL-C-74 720. It is a purpose of the invention relative to the prior art to provide an emptying apparatus which combines a simple construction with a great efficiency of operation. It is a further purpose of the invention to enable the apparatus to operate as automatically as possible. It is another purpose of the invention to ensure a positive driving which is as free of slip as possible, also in the case of relatively light, for instance plastic, containers. In view of the above purposes the apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the positioning means comprises a system of straight and deviating rails, a lifting means connected to a carriage running on wheels in said rails; the rotating means comprises a drivable belt, in use, firmly contacting the perimeter of the container or a driving means driving support rollers on which, in use, the container rests upon; and the extensible removal tool comprising a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder that is supported in a hinge and vertically slewable by means of an actuator the piston of the cylinder holding at its distal end a scraping tool. With such an apparatus a container can be emptied and a mass present therein, for instance a viscous residual mass, can be removed without being contaminated of mixed with other substances such as a cleaning liquid, while the residual mass can be poured in a controlled way into a collecting tank, for instance for re-use. In order to ensure a positive driving which is as free of slip as possible, also in the case of relatively light, for instance plastic, containers, the apparatus can have the special feature that the drive means comprise at least one free-turning pressure roller for pressing against the container in addition to a drive face, for instance the outer surface of a drive roller, for pressing against the container. Found to be very effective in this respect is the embodiment wherein the drive face is the surface of an endless strap, belt or cord. A very effective scraping action is ensured with an embodiment wherein the scraping means comprise a flexible scraper. A flexible scraper has the further advantage that it adapts itself easily to the shape of the inner surface of a container. This is a particular advantage in the case of non-cylindrical containers. A preferred embodiment has the special feature that lifting means also comprise the positioning means. Furthermore the apparatus according to the invention may be characterized by a time metering device and an inclination angle adjusting device. In this regard the invention also relates to a method of using the apparatus specified in the preceding paragraph, according to which method the amount of outflowing mass is controlled by determining the inclination angle of the container and the time during which the container is situated in the inclined position by using the time metering device and the angle adjusting device. As an alternative, the apparatus of the invention may be characterized by a weighing device which is present under the mouth of the container in the raised inclined position thereof and under which a receiving holder can be placed; an inclination angle adjusting device; and a time metering device. In this regard the invention also relates to a method of using the apparatus according to the preceding paragraph, said method comprising the steps of: placing a receiving holder on the weighing device; controlling the amount of outflowing mass by adjusting the inclination angle by using the inclination angle device and the time for which the container is situated in the inclined position by using the time metering device; and using the weighing device present under the mouth of the container in the raised inclined position thereof to determine the mass which has flown out of the container and been collected by the receiving holder. The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the annexed drawing, in which: figure 1 shows a device for metered delivery of a liquid or pasty mass from a container, partly in perspective view, partly in cross section; and figure 2 is a partly broken away perspective view of a cleaning apparatus according to the invention. Figure 1 shows a vessel 1 which is filled with a pasty mass 2. For metered delivery of this mass 2 the vessel 1 is provided on its underside with a tap 4 to be opened by an operating handle 3. On the top side the mouth of vessel 1 defined by the upper edge 5 can be closed by means of a cover 6 which connects to a compressed air source by means of a tube 7 and a flexible conduit 8 connecting thereto. In this way the contents of vessel 1 can be placed under pressure. By operating the handle 2 mass 2 dosed via the tap 4 can be delivered to a receiving holder 9. By means of a pneumatic cylinder 10 with a hollow continuous rod the cover 6 can be moved up and downward. A downward directed pressure force can also be exerted in this way by the cover 6 on the edge 5 provided with sealing means. The cylinder 10, and therewith cover 6, can be supported by a frame 11. Figure 2 shows a cleaning apparatus 12 according to the invention. The apparatus is suitable for cleaning a rotation-symmetrical container 13 of substantially random shape and dimensions. The container 13 has a mouth 14. A frame comprises four rails, respectively 15, 16 and 17, 18 along which wheels respectively 19, 20 can roll. Wheels 19, 20 bear a carriage 21. A cable 22 serves to displace carriage 21 up and downward. In the lower rest position (not shown) the carriage 21 extends vertically. In this position the container 13 can be placed. The container 13 then supports against two rollers 23, 24 and a belt 26 driven by a motor 25. The belt is pressed resiliently inward to make intensive contact with the outer surface of container 13 by pressing two free-turning rollers 27, 28 on the outside of the container. These rollers are carried into the position shown in figure 2 by pneumatic cylinders 129. Due to the curved form of the rails 17, 18 as according to figure 2, a tilting of the container 13 to the shown position takes place during the upward directed displacement of carriage 21 due to exerting of a tensile force on the cable 22. In this position the mouth 14 located on the underside is accessible to a scraper 29 with two flexible scraper blades 30, 31. The scraper 29 is carried by the piston rod 32 of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 33 which is pivotally suspended in a hinge 34 and assumes an angular position which is determined by the energizing situation of a cylinder 35. By simultaneously energizing motor 24 and cylinder 33 there takes place an urged rotation of container 13 on the one hand and an axial displacement of scraper blades 30, 31 on the other, whereby the whole inner surface of the container is cleaned in a helical scanning movement. The bottom is cleaned by the scraper 29. A flange 36 serves as leakage ring. The drawn embodiment according to figure 2 can also be embodied such that the belt 36 serves to drive rollers 23, 24 and has itself no driving function. The scraped-off mass leaves the container 13 via the mouth 14 and is poured into the vessel 1 placed thereunder. This vessel 1 can be further transported via a conveyor 37 to the device according to figure 1.

Claims: Apparatus for emptying a rotation-symmetrical container (13) with a mouth (14), comprising container positioning means (15-24) for placing and holding a container in a raised position with an inclination angle such that the mouth is situated on the underside; container rotating means (25-26) and aligning means (27-29); extensible removal tool means (30-36), characterized in that the positioning means comprises a system of straight and deviating rails (15-18), a lifting means (22) connected to a carriage (21) running on wheels (19, 20) in said rails (15-19); the rotating means comprises a drivable belt (25, 26), in use, firmly contacting the perimeter of the container (13) or a driving means (26) driving support rollers (23, 24) on which, in use, the container (13) rests upon; and the extensible removal tool comprising a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder (33) that is supported in a hinge (34) and vertically slewable by means of an actuator (35) the piston of the cylinder holding at its distal end a scraping tool (30, 31). Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the drive means comprise at least one free-turning pressure roller (27, 28) for pressing against the container in addition to a drive face (26), for instance the outer surface of a drive roller, for pressing against the container (13). Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the drive face is the surface of an endless strap, belt (26) or cord. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the scraping means comprise a flexible scraper (30, 31) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifting means (22) also comprise the positioning means. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by a time metering device and an inclination angle adjusting device. Method of using the apparatus of claim 6, according to which method the amount of outflowing mass is controlled by determining the inclination angle of the container (13) and the time during which the container (13) is situated in the inclined position by using the time metering device and the angle adjusting device. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by a weighing device which is present under the mouth of the container in the raised inclined position thereof and under which a receiving holder can be placed; an inclination angle adjusting device; and a time metering device. Method of using the apparatus according to claim 8 comprising the steps of: placing a receiving holder on the weighing device; controlling the amount of outflowing mass by adjusting the inclination angle by using the inclination angle device and the time for which the container is situated in the inclined position by using the time metering device; and using the weighing device present under the mouth of the container in the raised inclined position thereof to determine the mass which has flown out of the container and been collected by the receiving holder.

Inventors: GERRITSE JAN, GERRITSE, JAN
Applicants: GERRITSE BEHEER BV, GERRITSE BEHEER B.V.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B08B9
IPC codes: B08B9, B67C9